Britain's modern carrier-strike interruption echoes a World War II procurement lesson. When British carrier-fighter construction was paused in 1939 or 1940, the United States was the only friendly carrier power with aircraft available off the shelf. An immediate American purchase would have addressed the gap when Britain could not build the aircraft itself. Buying Japanese Zeros is a counterfactual aside: their light construction raises doubts about operating them from the Illustrious class in the Mediterranean, although their speed and agility suggest possibilities over Norway.
Notable Point · 45:44-46:50
Britain's wartime carrier-fighter procurement lesson
After domestic carrier-fighter production paused, Britain should have ordered available American aircraft immediately.